Average Clie / Palm Lifespan?

[jorgie]

I've had my Clie T-615C for about 5 months now, and I just wanted to know how long everyone else’s Clies / Palms have lasted them. So please post the following things.

1. Lifespan (units age)

2. What you used / use it for ex.(MP3, address, date book only etc.)

3. Usage in time ex.(1 hour daily, 30 minutes weekly ect.)

4. Overall experience with unit.

[T1000X]

1. Lifespan -
4 months (on average) to two years at max (for Visor Deluxe). Shortest was for a Sharp Zaurus SL-5500. Four days. I just had to try it out.

2. Useage Patterns -
Datebook, Address Book, Word Processor (Docs To Go, WordSmith), Gaming.

3. Daily Useage -
Anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours a day, depending on my needs and how many meetings I have in a day.

4. Experience & Satisfaction -
For the Palm OS units, very high. For the iPaq 3835 I tried, very low. My favorite unit I tried so far was the NX70V, which I miss. Should've never downgraded but I had to in order to pay a bill at the time.

[rhart00]

I have owned about 6 or so pda's since my first palmpilot. I used all of them regularly. The first ones I used mostly for games but now I use them more for other things such as organization, reading ebooks, etc. The lifespans vary on lot on each of them. I still have my IBM workpad (palmpilot 1000 equivalent) yet my Clie N760c doesn't work anymore. I broke 2 screens on palmpilots so I'd have to say a case is very important and so is a screen protector. I probably kept each one for 8 months to a year on average before I replaced it or it broke.

[rob_squared]

I've always been careful with my my palm pilots so I haven't lost one before its time. But on average I keep my palm pilots for 1-2 years. But I tend to use them for upwards of 3 hours a day, readind, mp3s, and games for the most part.

But I would say that you'll buy a new palm pilot before wearing one out.

[Wenda]

It depends on how you take care of your PDA. I have my Palm Vx for more than 2 years (the screen is broken) and bought a T665(lasted until now, 7 months). Just bought Tungsten T for 4 weeks and feel it's not worth it (I just like the Bluetooth). I use my T665 more often to play mp3, average 1 hour a day. Use my T|T to play Bejeweled! and Zap!. The screen is better than my T665 though (maybe because of the age). For datebook and phonebook, i use it occasionally. Due Yesterday is like an everyday routine.

[SamuraiCatJB]

My NR70 was bought as a birthday gift to myself last year, pre-ordered as it came of the assembly line, around April/May I think?

Anyhow, I have taken very careful care of it and yet used it constantly.... it is still going with now dead pixels or any other problems... not even a creak. :)

[sindu]

My first real PDA is HP 100LX and upgrade to 200LX and then Palm pilot, PalmV, Palm 505, Clie T615, and T665, and TG50 in the future. My 200LX and PalmV are the longest, lasting a few years. Owned 615 for a few months and tempted by 665 when it first came out.

Mostly use Agendus, games, e-mail, ICQ, database (JFile), MP3, SMS, and taking notes. I use the 665 a few hours a day.

Very satisfy with Palm base but was also satisfy with 200LX.

[jims]

1. Lifespan (units age)

My Vx lasted 2 years (Still worked - I just wanted hi res colour)  I've had my T665 for 6 months and will probably keep it for another year - no compelling reason to spend the extra $$ since it has everything I need.  (and my wife would kill me!)  ;)

2. What you used / use it for ex.(MP3, address, date book only etc.)

Schedule, Contacts, To Dos (Agendus), Bible reader, News channels, MP3s and Games

3. Usage in time ex.(1 hour daily, 30 minutes weekly ect.)

Hmmm...I'd say about 1 hr per day in total.


4. Overall experience with unit.

Very Pleased!

[Eric S]

I've been through several PDAs since my first P1000 back in 1996. If you don't count hardware upgrades, the P1000 lasted the longest, until the PIII came out. If you do count upgrades, then the longest goes to my HandEra 330, which has been passed on to a friend and is still going strong at almost two years.

Neither my wife nor my girlfriend can make a PDA last longer than a year, however. Usually the screen goes, sometimes the whole PDA just dies.

I use my PDA as about 50% organizer, 50% game machine. It keeps me entertained when I need it, and helps keep me organized when I use it. The alarm is too quiet for me, so I don't use it as much as I should.

All in all, I'm quite happy with my general PDA experience, even though I change PDAs as often as once a year. In fact, my NX-60 may only last 6 months, depending on whether Sony releases a non-clamshell equivelent to the NX-60 or, failing that, I like what I hear about the Garmin iQue.

[neon]

I've had my N760C for a bit over a year and while I'm generally happy, the damn pen keeps falling out and has had to be replaced a dozen times. It's expensive. It's a problem. Other than that it could last for a long time to come.

[wellsjs]

I tend to take very good care of things like PDAs so I would speculate that I'll probably divorce my Clie T665C before it divorces me! :D I.E. I'll always upgrade to newer technology before I wear out the current one!

[aym]

I think it's much like a computer. If all you do is use it for the basics - calculator, datebook, address book, some basic other programs - it will probably last 2-3 years. I had my Palm V for about that.

If you want to branch out into the newer things that come out - like say eBooks did - older models will likely constrain you. For example, with only 2 MB of memory on my Palm V and no expansion slot (standard at that time) I really couldn't get into some of the newer programs or trends.

Now, I'm spoiled with my NR70V, and I'll probably upgrade in about a year to be able to get the newer technologies and operating system to run the newer programs. My mom, however, would be more than able to use my old Palm V for another year or two from now.

Then there's the subject of wearing them out...

If you don't otherwise break it, one thing that does tend to wear out on Palms is the graffiti area. Especially without a screen protector, the constant use in that small area will cause light (or deeper) scratches which will eventually interfere with the system's ability to read your writing. I've seen most of my co-workers "wear out" palms in this fashion. Eventually it just doesn't work anymore for graffiti.

Again, that would be dependent on how you used it. A standard address and datebook user doesn't usually do that much data entry compared to, say, a student using it to take notes.

And then there's the question of how long some of the more fragile/consumable mechanisms on the Clie line itself. Batteries will eventually stop charging properly, and may be hard to replace. Clamshell Clies in particular will probably have their hinge wear out before anything else would be my guess.

Does that help some?
Aym

[DaveTN]

I have owned 5 PDA's I first got a HP MobilPro in 1997 and used it for games and typing a diary on. I gave it to my son and it is still in use today. My second PDA was a Compaq Aero 2130 which I have used up until last year. It still works but is a bit bulky. I used it mostly for work and reading ebooks and Laridians Bible. My compaq Aero is still in use and functions fine, although I use it as a paperweight.:)
My next PDA was a Palm VIIx that I had for about 2 months. I tried to use it for ebooks and such, also used HandBase on it but I ended up giving it to my brother-in-law when I saw a deal on a Clie t415 which I had for about 2 months. Used it at work for ordering supplies and logging expiration dates, but also used it quite a bit as an ebook/Bible reader. Finally, I got a Clie 615C about a month ago (PDA Bliss) and I think I have found my perfect PDA. I use it for all of the above and I would say that it gets about 4 hours of use a day for ordering, scheduling, mostly ebook reading though. I have not had any of my PDA's go bad, in fact all of the ones listed still work. I sold my 415 to one of the doctors I work with and he uses it quite a bit for scheduling and PDR.
Out of all the PDA's that I have own, I prefer the Palm based units over the WinCE/PPC.

Sorry to be so wordy but that's my 3 cents worth.

David

[jimroad]

My Vx is used as a backup and it's still works perfect. I bought the Vx when they 1st arrived.

[SWC]

My first Palm V lasted me about 3 years. I swapped it for a T615C because I wanted the hi-res color screen and the increased memory.

I use mostly for contacts, schedules, storing data, and games. When I'm in the office, I don't use it as often as when I'm on the road. On average an hour or so a day.

My Palm V has been handed down and is still in service. I replaced my Daytimer with the Palm V and have been a believer ever since.

[jorgie05]

As for myself, I began with an M125, then replaced it for an M130, then replaced that for a T-615, then to an SJ30, and currently switched back to a T-615. I know that I’m very indecisive, but I just wanted the best bang for my buck. Palm’s M series is very over priced and are way behind Clies. The Clies are very good, both looks and system wise. I was appalled that the SJ30 was more expensive than the T-615! The T-615 has a vibrating battery, the advanced IR and I nicer looking case, which is metal! Well enough analysis.


1. Lifespan (units age)
2. What you used / use it for ex.(MP3, address, date book only etc.)
3. Usage in time ex.(1 hour daily, 30 minutes weekly ect.)
4. Overall experience with unit. [/B]
T-615

1. I've had the unit for about 5 months and have had no problems so far, only a couple of bumps.

2. Now getting into MP3 but the battery life doesn't satisfy me, so I am a bit disappointed in that aspect. I also use everything else such as date book, address etc.

3. Probably 30-45 minutes a day.

4. Very satisfied with the T-615!

[boagie17]

1. Lifespan (units age)
I upgraded to my N760C 2 years ago when my Visor Edge just stopped working. Blessing the BestBuy gods, I bought the warranty and got my slick 760.

2. What you used / use it for ex.(MP3, address, date book only etc.)
I use it for MP3's, Address, Contact info, datebook (for my many bills), gaming, shopping list, receipe holder, great all around gadget!

3. Usage in time ex.(1 hour daily, 30 minutes weekly ect.)
Usage time is approximately 1to 2 hours per day depending on where I am and where I am going.

4. Overall experience with unit.
Totally satisfied. I chose my Clie for the plain reason that it has mp3 capability, hi-res, and the buttons are not the plasticky "light switches". I'm sure they work fine, but I know I will break the buttons eventually through wear and tear. I guess I was spoiled by the Visor product.

[gvtexas]

"Lifespan" is difficult to say, since they keep adding such cool features...don't see how anyone can keep one long to find out it's true lifespan.

On my third PDA, with the average of about a year per PDA (okay, so I came to the party a little late...). Current SJ30 will, I think, last a bit longer...but that depends on what the Sonys of the world think of next...

[timewaster77]

I got my first PDA in April: the T415. When I bought it I knew a wanted a PDA and knew it would be useful, but I wasn't sure how I was going to use it. I now use it on average for about 1 hour and 30 minutes a day. I have it for about 10 months and it does everything I bougt it for, but I now want to do more things with my Clie. I plan on waiting till my birthday in August to get myself a new Clie. So the life span will probably be a year and a half or so. However I think it could probably last at least 3 years.

[sam knupp]

I have owned almost every palm. clie, sharp, psion, ce device produced because they are fun and sometimes useful. The only one that I ever regretted giving away was my old Newton. It was a product so ahead of its time that it still has possibilities. I never had a PDA break or wear out, except when I fell or dropped it. The palm 505 was flawed because of poor screen brightness and cradle problems. The clies particularily nr70's had memory stick problems and the nx needed a software fix. The nz is wonderful but quirky. One of the great pleasures of owning a palm style product is to "pass" it on to a good home when you upgrade. I have brought many into the "fold". I use my pda for reference, (I keep a DSM 4, various specific data bases, Greek and Hebrew, concordance, sermon notes, and games. I also have many books to read. The program that I like most currently is the mobile edition of Avantgo beta 5. It has been working well for me.) Who would have thought that a small palm sized object would bring such a lot of fun and wonder to me over the years.

[chessbess]

Wait...you mean my brand new T665 that I just got four months ago for $400 is going to die in a year or two?? This is my first palm pilot and took a big chunk out of my savings - I thought I'd be using this for years!! Is this the average life expectancy of palms?

What can I do to extend the life of it - beside using a case and screen protector?

[gvtexas]

Originally posted by chessbess
What can I do to extend the life of it - beside using a case and screen protector?

1. Don't read any tech or pda or computer magazines again...so you won't be tempted towards a new model
2. Stay off the internet where you might catch sight of the new models...
3. Use only functional programs and stay away from the fun stuff!

Seriously, lifespan as voiced in this thread is spoken in terms of how long a user with stay with a given model, not how long a pda will last before dying. In theory, these pdas with care could last a long time...but the techonology with obsolete them faster than anything.

[jorgie05]

Originally posted by gvtexas
Seriously, lifespan as voiced in this thread is spoken in terms of how long a user with stay with a given model, not how long a pda will last before dying.

Great! Someone posted what I noticed a while back...I'd like to know how durable everyones Clies / Palms are, because I too invested a great deal of money into buying my Clie, and would like to know how long my investment will last. I wish I could buy every model that came out, but hey, beggars can't be choosy.

[jedix]

Originally posted by sam knupp
I have owned almost every palm. clie, sharp, psion, ce device produced because they are fun and sometimes useful. The only one that I ever regretted giving away was my old Newton. It was a product so ahead of its time that it still has possibilities. I never had a PDA break or wear out, except when I fell or dropped it. The palm 505 was flawed because of poor screen brightness and cradle problems. The clies particularily nr70's had memory stick problems and the nx needed a software fix. The nz is wonderful but quirky. One of the great pleasures of owning a palm style product is to "pass" it on to a good home when you upgrade. I have brought many into the "fold". I use my pda for reference, (I keep a DSM 4, various specific data bases, Greek and Hebrew, concordance, sermon notes, and games. I also have many books to read. The program that I like most currently is the mobile edition of Avantgo beta 5. It has been working well for me.) Who would have thought that a small palm sized object would bring such a lot of fun and wonder to me over the years.

Are you saying that every 2-4 weeks you buy a new device and spend $100 - $800!!! Between all the different names you mentioned, and the amount of devices each company puts out, you must spend a fortune! So let's say an average of $300.oo a device, every several weeks. So.....let's say $10,000.00 a year on PDAs alone, and you give away your old ones? How do I get on that list?! JK Am I understand you correctly when you say that you have owned "almost every palm. clie, sharp, psion, ce device produced "?

[sam knupp]

I counted up the number of palm sized devices that I have owned since the original Newton and Zarus devices that got me started. My "grand" total was 32. They ranged from all the iterations of Palm and Clie to the various Casio, Psion, Rex Compaq,, Handspring Visors and Prism, HP, IBM, Toshiba, and smart phones. I have spent thousands on devices, cases, software, and memory. However, these purchases are ones that I do not regret. They have been enjoyable and instructive and in a small way have helped me to connect with the technological marvels of the time. I drive an old f150 with 300 thousand miles on it but I have in my pocket the latest palm device. A modern car doesn't move me half as much as a tech toy, fine mechanical watch or high grade shotgun. Its a delight to read Homer in the original Greek on a blazingly fast, colorful PDA. I enjoy the sense of the old subtly changing via the tools of the new. I was recently badly head injured and I have been using PDA's to provide greater functionality and error reduction to my daily life. And yes my friends love to receive little gifts of pda's. I think if you like something you tend to want to share it. The technology behind the modern PDA carrys rather magical possibilities for desimenating information and improving quality of life as one ages. I have been looking at developing some therapy protocols that make use of pda's and their inherient mobility. I'll never forget the sense of wonder that I felt when my first Palm with 128 kilobites of memory allowed me to draw pictures on the screen and save them. Wonder is priceless.

[jovy]

Let me think about it. I have 1,2,3... Let me think about it. I have 1,2,3... total 6 PDAs.

The 1st one I got is PalmIIIx. Then one and half years later, there is a new PDA on the block called PalmIIIC. I got it immediately when it was availabe on the marekt. Alas! I lost it in a cab when I was on the way to convention centor to visit Computex. It was one of my favorite PDA.
Then I bought a Handera330 one week later. It was the first PDA I had that has both SD/MMC and CF slots. I really enjoy Handera330. It's a great experience playing with it. I was quite satisfied with the design. I use it for quite some time even SONY comes out several Clie series PDAs.
One thing I must say is that Zaurus is not the first linux PDA. There's a company called Agenda computing. They had once had a very cute linux PDA with 160x240 of gray screen. I purchased it on the internet. But it's just for fun. It can't really do serious things.
The 5th PDA I have is a local PDA with dictionary built in. The company called Global view. The PDA is based on linux OS too.
Last month I finally got a really wonderful PDA - SONY NX70V. Undoubtfully SONY is one of the company that can pack bunch of features into a not too large PDA.

I use my PDA a lot. Besides PIMs, I like to listen MP3 with my NX70V, playing games, watching ebooks, processing personal financial , using it as the TV remote controller, etc. One thing I havn't try yet is using it to surf on the web. It's just because I haven't got my wifi card.

[jorgie05]

I'd like to minimize the braggin'...

[sam knupp]

I posted several times lately to "test the waters" of my ability to communicate successfully after sufferng a life changing brain injury. PDA's have a special spot in my heart along with the fact they really help me function on a daily basis. I seem to be out of touch with how communication occurrs on this board. I was not trying to brag or say anything except that I had a long relationship with Palm sized computers and how much I have enjoyed that evolving process. I am sad to be misunderstood in my effort to say what I really mean. It is rather ironic to me because my injury has reminded me daily that the only issues of value - are not what you own or what you know but rather how you chose to share your person with others. I mourn my loss of clear cognition and ability to work successfully. I went from a man who worked 16 hours a day six days a week to the "shadow life" of the brain injured. As I have read more deeply on the pages of this board I have been struck by several things. First the willingness to share knowledge and expertise freely. It is a great gift to share what you know in a manner that helps elevate someone elses skills, knowledge and enjoyment. In many cases there is a lovely kindness that suffuses many dialogues - with a broad humor. I like that very much. A darker quality also inhabits these pages. There is an angry, excluding, heckling tone at times that is confusing at best and demeaning at worst. I am concerned when so much time and effort is spent on deciding who can "read", "post" and "the rules". Common sense and courtesy should be the "rule". "Early adopter" have always been people who "share" their interests and expertise. I followed the thread on the zeopad. I felt no joy in in this hunt for "truth" - but I value the passion that moved each person. I do not believe it is ever a positive to exclude someone from the community. It just leads to bitterness and anger. Understanding and forgiveness are usually linked. The clie source forums stand for much that is good, healing and positive. For me however, they are too combative in areas that I can nolonger compete in. I am too fragile at this point to "fight" for understanding or to "make" my point under less than positive scrutiny. I will not post again until I am stronger and more sure that I am communicating properly. I am on a long road in rehabilitation and will be back. I have been forced to relearn patience, "gentleness", in new ways and have found that being "disabled" has "en"abled some aspects of myself that "success" had dimmed. Thank you for listening. Sam

[jorgie05]

Well I'm sorry for the misunderstanding...May I ask how Palm sized computers help you function , and why you picked them?

[winot]

A formula for the lifespan of a pda. Longevity inversely preportionate to depth of pocketbook.

[rob_squared]

I have yet to break/return a palm pilot. Having said that I will no proceed to break a few right now. :)

[parmesian]

Originally posted by winot
A formula for the lifespan of a pda. Longevity inversely preportionate to depth of pocketbook.

i absolutely agree!:D

i bought one of the first palm pilots and even though i only used it about a year, my mother still uses it today.

my dad has my old palm IIIxe

my son has my old palm Vx

my wife has my old kyocera smartphone

i have the nx70v (only one month so far) and i will give into the temptation of something newer before it wears out. my only problem is that the only people in my life who aren't using one of my old palm devices are my daughter and youngest son, but there just aren't a lot of programs for three and five year old kids.:p

[Zhazbot]

My T615C stopped syncing with the desktop just outside of two years. I had a BB warranty on it and took it in, and the repair area told me that they are seeing an average of two to threes years of service on the Clies. So if you want to get the scope on products that you are interested in buying, talk to the repair department if you can. They have a good handle on return rates and quality problems. Overall I feel that the quality of electronic products has come down in order to drive the cost lower. BTW traded up to a NX60 for and additional $100 and they extended my warranty out to two years. :D Can't complain here.

[boagie17]

Ok, I recind my original post of two years....it was actually 1 year. And yesterday my 760 died! Just didn't turn on at all. Returned the clie with my handy dandy BB warranty and upgraded to the NX60. Lets see how this one turns out :p

[holmesness]

didn't mean to post twice see below

[VLevyNYC]

I started out with a Palm Vx. Didn't really use it much till I started grad school a year later. Then it got stolen the first month, so I bought another one. Once I lerned about Vindigo I started using it much more.

This past summer I relied heavily on the Vx during my internship. Then in the fall I considerd upgrading to color because the m515 was on blowout. Then I decided to do some research and realized the Sony had so many more pixels. I fell in love and have been a freak since--MP3s, color subway map, appointments, and recently pics and videos.

So here's my breakdown.:


Lifespan = Palm--> 2.5 years; Clie-->probably 1.5 years
Uses = Clie: Vindigo, MP3, subway map, datebook, contacts, to dos, videos (Simpsons episodes), doc manager, games, ...
Usage frequency = average 30-40 minutes a day
Overall experience = I love it, but I need to get a PDA/Cell ohone (see my thread at http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=5577&goto=newpost )


 

[holmesness]

I'm pretty conservative but very proud of my two PDA purchases of the last few years:

In October of 1999, about 3 months into my Family Practice residency, it was very apparent I needed a PDA. I did some research and found that the Visor Deluxe was coming out soon. It had the possibility of expandable memory; the medical references available are memory hogs so this seemed key. Finally it arrived; it gave me a good 2 1/2 years of service being used multiple times daily. Towards the end the digitizer wasn't registering pressure in the correct spot so it became difficult to use. Again I began to research....

And found the NR70 available for pre-order. Honestly I considered going PPC, and even had a free HP offered to me by my program (they bought one for everyone, I begged them to go palm!). The VG seemed like a must have for me. Well, I've been very happy with it and intend to get another year or so out of it (at least my wife hopes I will!). Just like VLevy my next upgrade will hopefully be pda/cell phone.

I use my PDA at least 4-5 times daily as part of my job; often just as a calculator to figure out the right dose of a med for a child, figure out gestational age of a pregnancy, or to look up information (usually about medications). I also pull it out a couple times a week for 30 mins or so of game playing.

[mormegil]

But the Extended warranty!

This is just the Clie here:

Got a Clie N760C in January 10, 2002
exchanged for some reason, January 13, 2002 (3 days)
exchanged for new N760C, stopped syncing, February 23, 2002 (1.5 months)
exchanged for new T665C, stopped charging, October 18, 2002 (8 months)
exchanged for new T665C, froze up, November 25, 2002
exchanged for new NX70V (paid price difference), after LCD got corrupted (coincidentally, after it dropped a few feet), February 27, 2003 (1 month after buying a KB11 keyboard for the discontinued T665, which is incompatible with the NX)

Prior to the Clie, I had a Palm IIIe, which I dropped, and got a small crack in the screen. I replaced the screen. About 8 months later I dropped it down a set of stairs, got a whole lot of cracks (1 month after applying the 8MB upgrade). My boss gave me his old Palm IIIe, since he just got a Palm V, and nobody else wanted the IIIe. I gave my thrashed one to my uncle, who resurrected it
with a new screen. It was about 4 months later that I got the Clie that started the timeline above.


So, shortest, 3 days, longest 8 months.

I would like to mention, that I got the Clie at Best Buy. Prior to this last exchange, I couldn't upgrade, but had to settle for something of the same or less than the original purchase price. This last time, they let me pay the difference ($200), and get the NX ($600 MSRP).


I think the reason my PDAs don't last too long are, I work in a lab, and it can be a harsh environment (I use it as a lab timer, along with other science apps), and two, I'm clumsy and drop them every once in a while. I should consider a case, but then I wouldn't have an NX :)